Thrive & Survive with MND

Hello and thanks for clicking the link to my Go Fund Me Page, I am Graeme 40 and I was diagnosed with MND in July 2021. Since being diagnosed with MND, I have written a Bucket List which I’m hoping to be able to achieve. A few things on my Bucket List are :

1) To be able to achieve my dream of becoming a Rugby Referee, and to have as many opportunities as possible to be involved in games both in the Uk and abroad. My ultimate dream would be to be involved in a Six Nations Match or the URC

2) Get a behind-the-scenes tour of Strictly Come Dancing the Live Tour, meet the celebrities and strictly professional dancers and have a photo with them. I’m also hoping to get permission to do a Bucket Collection at the show on Sunday 5th February 2023 @TheO2 London. The money collected will go towards my £20,000 fundraising target. ( I was able to achieve part of this)

3) A Bucket Collection at the performance of 2:22 A Ghost Story at The Lyric Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue London on Saturday 22nd April 2023 ( Achieved and raised £450 what a fantastic amount )

4) RUGBY 4 MND A Charity Rugby Match on 12th August 2023 All proceeds from this event will be going straight towards my target ( Achieved and raised £260 )

I am a fan of Rugby and have been since leaving school at 16, I was never one to play the sport but thought why couldn’t I be a referee? When I left school it was a very difficult time in my life, and so my Aspirations to be a Rugby Referee were not achievable then. However, since my MND diagnosis, I’ve been working alongside the London and Oxford Referees Society, to come up with a way that I can be involved in the game even though I am a Wheelchair user.

In addition to my love and passion for rugby refereeing, I’m also interested in the arts sector from film to Tv but more so theatre and live performances. I in fact when I left school joined a drama group. Over the past few years, it’s been incredibly difficult getting out to see shows, as what I find is very few shows cater to people with Neuro Diverse conditions.

I am hoping through my Goals to try and relay that more needs to be done to accommodate everyone in society, not just those with Visual or Hearing difficulties.

I don’t see myself as a disabled person, I see myself as someone who is challenged but wants to try and overcome the barriers in life which are put in front of disabled people.

Through Your kind and generous donations, I plan to achieve the £20,000 by the earliest possible opportunity.

In addition to my MND diagnosis, I'm open and honest to say that I am on the Autism spectrum, and I have a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome. I do find this a barrier and challenge in life, as a lot of people know nothing about Autism. What I get frustrated about is the lack of Relaxed Performances In the Theatre. Industry. It's something I'm trying to work on changing. I feel there needs to be an Ambassador for Neuro Diversity in the Arts sector to be honest.

Life is tough for me, but I'm a fighter and will continue to stand strong. If I let my MND / Asperger's take over my life then I should just give up now.

I'm not going to do that. What I will do Is keep fighting for change around Inclusion and Disability. What I feel should happen particularly in Rugby, is there needs to be more achieved to make Rugby an inclusive sport for everyone. This work can only come from the top though .

I am very grateful to those who have given generously to this Go Fund Me Page, and for the contributions, I've collected in Bucket Collections in 2022. Without these generous contributions, the work currently being done to find a cure for MND wouldn't be possible. Once again THANK YOU

I'd personally like to Thank You very much on behalf of myself, the charity and those others living with MND. Every amount of money donated through my page will be going directly to support the work the MND Association, gives to help people living with MND.

Do you want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money in aid of Motor Neurone Disease Association and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about Motor Neurone Disease Association: The Motor Neurone Disease Association is the only national charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland focused on MND care, research and campaigning.

You can visit our main website at www.mndassociation.org for more information, support and details of how you can help us.

You can help us by:

Fundraising - go to www.mndassociation.org/fundraising

Volunteering - go to www.mndassociation.org/volunteer

Campaigning - go to www.mndassociation.org/campaigning